Senate enacts Sen. Baldacci bill to allow police officers, firefighters and public safety workers to rejoin Maine Public Employees Retirement System

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, the Maine Senate enacted a bill from Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor. The bill, LD 711, “An Act To Allow Certain Police Officers To Return to Participation in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System,” would allow police officers to rejoin the Participating Local District Retirement Program under certain conditions. 

“This bill strengthens our state’s retirement program for our firefighters and police officers by giving them more say in their retirement plan,” said Sen. Baldacci. “When crafting this bill, I talked to several police officers who told me how much things had changed since they first joined the force, and how they wished they could rejoin the Maine Public Employees Retirement System but simply couldn’t. This bill ensures that after years of public service to our state, these public workers get the retirement program they want and deserve.” 

LD 711 allows police officers, firefighters and public safety workers to make a one-time election to rejoin the Maine Public Employees Retirement System under specific conditions. Previously, a member of the Participating Local District Retirement Program, on the date that an employer offers an alternative retirement program, may make a one-time irrevocable decision to remain under that program or to join the alternative retirement plan offered by the employer.

LD 711 now goes to Gov. Janet Mills who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or allow to become law without her signature. As an emergency measure, LD 711 would take effect immediately upon becoming law.